There's no shortage of reasons why people are taking up cycling. Some folks are having a hard time keeping up with the rising cost of gasoline and maintenance bills, so they choose to ride a bike. Some are 'going green' and taking an active part in trying to help our environment by choosing to ride a bike over a car.
Still others simply ride bicycles for fun. No matter what the reason is for choosing a bicycle, there are some things you should keep in mind before you decide. Choosing the right bicycle is more than just picking the one that's the best looking. Here are some helpful tips that you can use to help you decide which bicycle you should buy.
You must make sure you get a bike that is the appropriate size for you. To do this, you will need to measure your inseam. Your inseam is the amount of inches from the bottom of your foot, up the inside of your leg to your groin. When you get a bike you should be able to lay both feet flat to the ground if need be. This is for saftey reasons and will allow you to stop the bike if your brakes fail, avoiding any injury.
Before you buy any bicycle, you are going to want to take it for a test ride. You should never buy something you haven't tried out for at least a few minutes. It's the same concept as buying a used car, there's no way you would take it without testing it.
It's the same thing with a used bicycle. This is especially important if you are going to be spending large sums of money for a bicycle that you are going to be riding a lot. You need to make sure the bike is a perfect fit. Physical fit is easy to determine, but you also need to find a bike that “fits†your riding style. Why would you spend money on something that does not feel comfortable to ride?
You also want to make sure you leave some room between you and the crossbar of your bike. When you choose your bike, adjust the seat up a few inches from the crossbar and then sit on the bike. Your feet should still comfortably rest on the ground. Each type of bike requires different clearances. A good example is a touring bike, with these bikes you will only need around 1" difference. For mountain bikes you will require somewhere around 3 inches.
As you can see, there are several things you should description keep in mind when you decide on a bicycle that's right for you. It can become a bit overwhelming when going shopping for a bike and accessories because there is just so much to choose from. If you will not jump into things and try and educate yourself on what you need, you will be pleased with the results.